TikTok announced the launch of a new feature: Campus Verification. This feature will help college students connect with their campus identities through TikTok and connect with classmates from their respective schools and classes on the platform. For Gen Z freshmen, this is a crucial social tool. This article will explain how to use TikTok Campus Verification, its potential value, and how to maximize its effectiveness.
What Is TikTok Campus Verification?
Campus Verification allows students to add their university to their TikTok profile and verify their student status using either:
Once verified, students can:
Display their university on their profile
Browse their school's dedicated page on TikTok
Filter classmates by graduation year
Discover the most-followed peers in their university
TikTok emphasizes that the feature is intended to help students feel more comfortable during the first weeks of college:
"Research shows the first few weeks on campus are crucial for forming social connections that can shape a student's entire college experience."
How to Complete TikTok Campus Verification (Step-by-Step Guide)
If you want to try this feature, follow these steps:
Update Your TikTok App
Make sure your app is the latest version to access Campus Verification.
Go to Your Profile
Open TikTok → Tap "Profile" → Edit Profile.
Add Your University Information
Select "Campus Verification," enter your university, and provide your graduation year.
Verify Student Status
Explore Your Campus Page
After verification, you can visit your school's TikTok page, filter classmates by year or interests, and start connecting.
Advantages of TikTok Campus Verification
Helps Students Quickly Build Social Connections
The first weeks of college are crucial for friendship formation. Campus Verification allows students to find peers faster and reduces social anxiety.
Leverages TikTok's Recommendation Algorithm
TikTok's algorithm not only recommends content but can also suggest like-minded users. Combining this with campus verification creates a highly efficient social network.
Higher Security Barrier
While email verification is not foolproof, combining it with UNiDAYS verification helps reduce the risk of impersonation.
Comparison with Facebook Campus
Meta launched Facebook Campus in 2020 with similar goals, but it was eventually shut down due to expansion challenges and security issues.
TikTok's approach differs in several ways:
Larger coverage: Launching with 6,000 U.S. universities, exceeding Facebook Campus' initial scale
More active user base: College students are a core demographic of TikTok
Gen Z-friendly design: Short videos and algorithm-driven recommendations better align with student habits
Potential Challenges
Despite its benefits, Campus Verification also faces challenges:
Security: Preventing non-students from gaining access
Privacy: Students may hesitate to publicly share their school and graduation year
Content moderation: Campus pages require stricter oversight to prevent harassment or scams
Addressing these issues will be key to the feature's long-term success.
Tips to Make the Most of TikTok Campus Verification
Here are a few strategies for students who want to maximize this new tool:
Update your profile with interests – this helps TikTok suggest more relevant peers.
Engage in campus hashtags and challenges – join trending content from your university to boost visibility.
Interact actively – like, comment, and collaborate with fellow students to build friendships faster.
Follow your graduation year peers – start networking with classmates early for potential study groups.
Stay mindful of privacy – avoid oversharing personal details such as dorm numbers or schedules.
Final Thoughts
For incoming college students, TikTok Campus Verification isn't just a tag; it's a potential social accelerator. In your first semester, you might only know your roommates and classmates, but with Campus Verification, you can quickly expand your network, find friends with similar interests, and even get to know future alumni influencers.
TikTok's product design directly targets the needs of Gen Z. If it can properly control security and privacy, it is likely to become a new trend in campus social networking.
If you are a college student about to start school, you might as well try Campus Verification immediately to make your campus life easy from the first day.
